| dc.description.abstract | This study investigates the impact of human capital development, specifically
focusing on education and health, on employment preferences and labor productivity
(earnings) among workers in Kerala, India. Utilizing both secondary data from the India
Human Development Survey (IHDS) 2011-12 and primary data collected from Feroke
Municipality, the research employs various statistical tools such as the Mincer earnings
function, multinomial logistic regression, and Kruskal-Wallis test. The analysis reveals that
higher education levels increase the likelihood of salaried employment and lead to better
earnings for both regular and self-employed workers. However, casual laborers show minimal
earnings improvement with education. Gender disparities in pay are significant across
employment sectors, with men consistently earning more than women at all educational
levels. Socio-economic status, particularly parental education and family income,
significantly influences the educational attainment and health of individuals, which in turn
affects their productivity. Caste and employment sector also play critical roles in shaping
earnings, with lower castes and casual workers facing notable disadvantages. The study
concludes that targeted policy interventions are necessary to address gender pay gaps,
improve private sector employment conditions, and promote equitable access to education
and opportunities across caste groups. | |
